The chair and home health care

Kay82

I am in Michigan & my mother is 89. I was just told, by my mom's doctor, that a home health care agency turned my mother away. The woman said 'the office in your area probably has their limit of Medicare clients.'  No she did not sound sure of herself as to this answer, said she was reading the intake unit's notes.  Has anyone heard of this?

This was just the icing on the cake to this whole messed up week.  

Wednesday after lunch my mother could not get up from the dining table. It was as if she didn't have the strength. I called my daughter to come help. She suggested I have her put her arms around my neck.  I put her hands on my shoulders and proceeded to bring her to a standing position.  At that point my daughter got the walker close to her so she could grab it & I stepped away.  I was right beside her & she walked the 2' needed to get to her rocker.  My daughter told me she could see 2 things from her perspective behind my mother - the minute I stood her up she began to flail her arms as though she felt she was going to fall & she was trying to find something to grab onto. Also the way she talked it was like she couldn't process any thought as to how to get up.  I bought a new dining table chair with arms, worked perfect after lunch until she was back in her rocker & saw it. She got up from her rocker, pulled the chair away from the table & said I don't want this chair.  I moved it out of her line of vision & all was fine for the rest of the afternoon.  I was unable to put it back for dinner, she didn't have any issues after dinner getting up. I was getting ready for bed & she came to me & said I want to get rid of this chair. I firmly said no it is my chair, she turned & walked away.

Ed1937

Hi Kay. Sorry you're having these problems. Could you call another home health care agency? It sounds as though your mother needs that.

Re: the chair. I'm wondering if there is something about the chair that frightens her? Maybe it would be a good idea to ask her why she wants to get rid of the chair, so you'll have a better understanding how you can help without actually getting rid of it. Possibly just moving it to a different position at the table could make things better? She might have tried to hold on the one of the arms for stability when she was walking, and the chair tipped as she was holding onto it. So many possibilities. I hope you get it figured out.

harshedbuzz

Kay-

I wonder if the issue with home health care is a lack of available people available to service new clients. There are staffing shortages nearly everywhere. A friend had to place her kinship foster son (step-grandson) into a pediatric nursing home because she couldn't get the home health aides to which he is entitled because of his disability. He has the waivers for the care-- but there aren't any people to fill the slots. 

About the chair? I wonder if it is associated with a hallucination. Sometimes when my dad was suddenly troubled by an object it was related to a bad person he saw.

HB

Kay82

The doctor is going to make a referral to another agency. I did do some research and it may be an insurance issue in that they don't pay unless the person has had a recent hospital discharge or has had a significant change in health as in declining in health. 

I also thought lack of staff may be a factor. 

In regards to the chair, we had another go around about it this morning.  I think b/c it looks different, not so much in color, the fact that it looks connected to the table.  My daughter keeps reminding me she is not making new memories so she has forgotten the struggle she had Weds getting up after lunch. She moved the chair to my place at the table,  which is fine. I just need to make the switch before lunch. 

This coming Tuesday is my appointment w/an attorney to draw up a lawsuit against my sister for embezzlement & harm to the estate.  This may give me some clarity as to my next decision.